The big birthday finally arrived. Benjamin's been requesting a basketball cake for months. SO, we had dinner with the Prices, ate basketball cake, and went to a highschool basketball game. Fun times. We love you, Benjamin!!!

This was Benjamin's face while watching the basketball game--mesmerized!

We had a fabulous time in New Jersey for Thanksgiving with Brian, Debbie, Hailey, and Nicole. Yes, it was a long drive-but Benjamin was fantastic. Anyway, the big surprise was how wooded the area was, they even had deer going through their backyard. Anyway, thanks Brian and Debbie for letting us visit at a pretty crazy time for you! (They just moved there!)

Sorry, Brian, I am posting this picture even though you did a crazy weird eye thing. Serves you right for ruining this cute picture. : )

Well, I have done an abismal job of being an adoption advocate on my blog, especially in the month of November. (It's National Adoption Awareness Month.) It's hard to even try to express in words how I feel about the blessing of bringing Benjamin into our family. I remember our Bishop reminding us around the time that he was born that we stand on "very sacred ground." That really sums up how I feel! We have so much love and respect for his birth mother. I have decided that placing your child (not "giving up"--a careful, deliberate plan is made) when circumstances are such that you cannot give him/her everything that you want for him/her (a mother and father, time and attention, financial and emotional stability, etc.) is a very "mother" decision to make. We have been been surprised to learn how many birth mothers actually have children already and when they find themselves with changing circumstances and an unexpected pregnancy they make the choice to make an adoption plan. Here are some pictures of an adoption walk that my friend organized here in Lafayette and we participated in. Awesome!

*If you would like one of my crocheted heart magnets for your fridge, like the picture at the top of this post, just comment and let me know. I will GLADLY send you one, two, or more! I want to spread them near and far--it's my effort at being an adoption advocate. : ) They are meant as a reminder that adoption is about love.